Subject: Don’t even know where to start Location: Kanagawa Japan September 21, 2016 7:50 pm I’m posting for a friend of mine. He’s stationed in Japan, Kanagawa area. Found this on a hill, walking on road. Not even sure if it’s a bug. Tried centipedes but didn’t find anything, tried mantis but that didn’t look right either. Maybe a catapiller of some sort? Signature: Theresa

Lobster Caterpillar

Dear Theresa, The Lobster Caterpillar, Stauropus fagi, is such an unusual looking creature it is really understandable that you did not know where to begin researching its identity. Lepi-PHotos has some nice images of the adult moth. According to UK Moths: “The larvae live on the leaves of beech (Fagus), oak (Quercus), and several other trees.”

Thank you! It’s funny it’s called a lobster caterpillar, I kept trying to figure out if mantis shrimp could be on land, like a bird had dropped it. Thank you so much! Theresa McIntosh

Subject: Caterpillar Procession Location: Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland May 24, 2013 1:57 am Hi, I photographed these caterpillars in mid-April at Monte Verita, in the hills above Ascona, Switzerland. The length of the caterpillar procession was around 6 feet. They were moving pretty quickly, clearing the path in under 10 minutes. It was a warm day, between 75 and 80 degrees, and one of the first warm days of the season in the area from what I was told. Thought you might be interested. We love your site- thank you for all you do!! Signature: Jennifer P.

Pine Processionary Moth Caterpillars

Hi Jennifer, Thanks so much for sending us your photos of the Pine Processionary Moth Caterpillars, Thaumetopoea pityocampa. According to the Wildlife in France website: “In the spring, anytime from February until May, the caterpillars leave the trees and go down to the ground, this is when we will see them forming their long nose to tail processions as they make their way to find a place in the soil to pupate, the period of pupation can last a couple of months or several years. They actually touch each other to make a long chain, hence the common name of Pine processionary moth.” The Pine Processionary Moth Caterpillars should not be handled because, according to the UK Forestry Commission website: “caterpillars represent a public health hazard because they have thousands of hairs which contain an urticating, or irritating, protein called thaumetopoein. These hairs can be blown by the wind into contact with people and animals, resulting in painful skin irritations and rashes and, in some cases, allergic reactions in some people and animals.”

Roving Japanese Caterpillar Gangs Location: Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa, Japan June 29, 2011 8:13 pm I first noticed large gangs of these caterpillars in the tree near my apartment in rural Japan a few days ago. As of this morning, they’re on a mass exodus toward the house. I’ve turned the AC on to discourage exploration of the machine’s innards, but beyond that I’m not sure if I need to do anything about them or just let them be. Step one would be finding out what they are! Thanks a lot. Signature: Brian

Pine Processionary Caterpillars on the March

Dear Brian, We believe we have identified your Caterpillar aggregation as the Pine Processionary Caterpillar, Thaumetopoea pityocampa. According to the faculty web page of Cortland: “The pine processionary caterpillar is the best known of all the processionaries, studied as early as 1736 by Raumier and later by Fabre (1898) whose essay “ The life of the caterpillar” is among the classics of popular entomological literature. The insect is found in the warmer regions of southern Europe, the Near East, and North Africa. It is the habit of the caterpillars to move over the ground in long head-to-tail processions and to sting with urticating hairs anyone who attempts to molest them that has brought the caterpillars to the attention of the public. It is also one of the most destructive of forest insects, capable of defoliating vast tracts of pines during its episodic population surges. Of interest here, however, is the fact that is among the most social of caterpillars. Sibling groups stay together throughout the larvae stage, often pupating side by side at sites they reach by forming long, over-the-gound, head-to-tail processions.” The Forests and Human Health website devoted to sources of dermatitis has information on a wider range for the Pine Processionary Caterpillars, and states: “Processionary caterpillars, such as Thaumetopoea spp. and Ochrogaster spp., are not only important causes of forest damage, but have also caused frequent outbreaks of dermatitis, ocular lesions and allergic reactions in Australia, Europe, Japan and the United States (Diaz, 2005; Vega et al., 1999). The pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) can remain in the chrysalis stage for several years if environmental conditions are unfavourable. As a result, moths from several generations can emerge simultaneously when favourable conditions occur, causing severe outbreaks (Vega et al., 1999). Contact with dead larvae, cocoons, nests and debris from infested pine forests can also cause dermatitis throughout the year. During outbreaks in France, media campaigns have been conducted to warn the public away from affected areas. In Israel, T. pityocampa occurs in pine plantations and on urban trees and is considered a serious pest of medical importance causing eye problems and even temporary blindness (Solt and Mendel, 2002). Pine processionary caterpillar, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, is a serious pest causing dermatitis epidemics and eye problems.” Finally, this article entitled The Dangerous Pine Processionary Caterpillar provides additional information and precautions.